Poor Pollination in Apple
Return to Production Problems
Poor pollination occurs when there are insufficient numbers of bees. This is often associated with too few hives and/or cold, windy, wet conditions during bloom. Normal fruit will have 10 developed seeds which mobilizes carbohydrates into the fruit during growth. Fruit with low seed numbers are typically smaller in size and may be unsymmetrical or lopsided.
Poor pollination (fruit).
(Photo: John Strang, University of Kentucky)
Management:
- Provide adequate bee numbers (Honey bees may be more efficient pol-linators than orchard bees and more economical than bumble bees)
- Thin fruit to remove those with low seed numbers
